Coating or plastic



106. COMPOSITIONS, UNSS GIYEHC COATING 0R PLASTIC.

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ee I72 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

vJOHN W. MCKNIGHT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

ARTIFICIAL STONE, TILE, AND MARBLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,262. datedSeptember ;;1881.

Application ined figue 19, isst. (Model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN WESLEY Mo-4 KNIGn'r, of Washin gton,inthecounty of Washington, and in theDistrictof Columbia, have'in- 5vented certain new and useful Improvemen tsin Artiticinl Stones, Tiles,and Marble; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, and

xo to the letters of reference marked thereon,

making a part of this specification.

This invent-ion relates to certain improvements in tbe manufacture ofarticial stones, tiles, and marble, and to an improved method i5 oflaying the same; and it has for its objects to produce a strong anddurable material for such purposes which will possess the char*teristics ot' natural stone in the highest degree, which will havesnticient hardness to adapt it zo to purposes where it will be subjectedto the greatest wear and tearsuch as pavements und the like-and whichwill be capableot taking a perfect polish, and may be snpertieially or-.namented to adapt it to building purposes, as

more fully hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view, showing my improvedmethod of laying the artificial stone, tile, or marble. Fig. 2represents a view of a slab constructed according 3o to my invention,and Fig, 3 represents a sectional view ot' the slab.

1n carrying out my invention I take the following ingredients andcombine the same in about the proportions named, viz: bo ax one .fpound; sul2hur, two pounds; caou c one one pound; zinc-w ite one pounpounmss onepound; s ie c three pounds;is1n Iass onehalf pound; )Iumba oonepounc xi ,one pound; .vcerine, 4o one quart; muriatic a asuicienth'l'y-T; a!uin, three pounrs; carbonate of ammonia, ree pounds.The insoluble substances composing the ingredientsa ovelnen ionearethoroughlyeomminuted or pnlverized, aud the soluble substancescomposing the ingredien` are dissoIved to saturation in their propersolveg, which willconsist,respectively,ofwa r na re tag, lgghol, orether. The ineredien a 5o en oroughly commingled ancd conglomerated,forming the compound to be employed in the formation of the improvedstone, tile, or marble. l

This compound,when required for use,is em pleyed in the proportion ot'one quart of said com iound to one hundred gallons of water, lmore orless.) I then take ten parts (more or less) of silicious sharp s i d orravel and one part of Portland or ot er ce nt. The said gravel andcement are thorougi y dampened with the prepared compound, which is in astate of solution, and the whole is com mingled so as to form a plasticor semi-plastic mass. I then place the mass in suitable molds and tampor otherwise compress it therein. The mass is allowed to set, beingdampened occa-l sionally,forthree or four days,acco'din g to theelimate,\vith the compound, the object being to fill all the pores withthe compound, to render the tinished stone impervious to waterandimpenetrable to the elements; hence obviating the necessity of surfacepainting or coating hitherto found necessary where porous buildingmaterials are employed.

For thedtferent imitations of marble I place up'on n slab of glass orany other snitn ble smooth surface the above-mentioned compound, combilled with n suitable quantity ot'-Keens or other suitable cementy orluster, in a pInstic stnte,tothe extent of from about nn eighth toaq'uarter of an inch in thickness. I then take up the surt'aeefmoistureot' the mass alter it has been properly leveled by sifting upon thesurface a suitable quantity ol' dry cement, the superfluous portionsbeing afterward brushed oti' or otherwise removed. 'lhe surface is thenscored by means of a suitable instru|nent,so as to form aseries ofindented lines, similnr to the veins ol' Italian or other marble, afterwhich the lines are tilleil willi the compound and cement suitablycolored to imitate the veins of such marbles. After the whole sets orhardens the slab is'pqlished in the usual way.

When it is desired toproduce ornamental or other designs upon thesurface ot the finished slab the same is et'ected by placing below asheet of glass the proper design, which may consist of a photograph,print, manuscript, letters, or sign, and I then trace upon the surfaceof the glass by means of a camels-hair pencil or other suitableinstrument the lines of the design with the compound above men- IOOtioued, suitably colored and thickened'with cement, and when the samehas properly set. 1 apply the compound and cement before mentioned tothesurface of the glass, covering the design produced thereon and embeddingthe same in the mass. When the whole has set and hardened the slab isremoved, leaving the design beautifully set in the surface. The slab isthen polished and finished as usual.

By this means it will be perceived that ornamental figures ininnumerable varietiessnch as pictures, geometrical designs, autographs,signs, and the likemay be produced upon the slab with the utmostfacility and at a merely nominal cost.

Ornamental moldings may be formed npon the slab by forming suitableg'rooves or indentations at or near the edges or elsewherein the surfaceof the slab while the mass is in a semiplastic state before setting, andby filling said grooves or indentatious, as indicated by-tbe letterA iuthe drawings, with the mass differently colored, so that tbe twoportions, while iu such plastic or semi-plastic state, will coa lesceand unite, forming virtually a solid block or slab.

For the manufacture of paint the beforementioned om ouud is employed inconnec tion with the gypsum or l hate oflimeua natural statemsuurl'mmimebein g placed in a suitable vessel or receptacle with the compound, andthe whole allowed to remain until the gypsum or sulphate of lime isthoroughly disintegrated. The soluble or fluid portion of the materiallis then drawn off, leaving a resduum behind. By the action of thecompound the crystalline structure of the gypsum or sulphate of limewill be destroyed` and the said gypsum or sulphate of lime will he leftin such form as to be readily reduced to an impalpable powder, which, incombination with pulverized bar 'tcsor hcav s ar, will form a. valuableim WTi'i-s pigment, with a proper vehic'le, is applied to any surfacethe gypsum or sulphate of lime, under atmospheric influences, will againassume its crystalline condition, forming a. coating of extreme hardnessand durability. Such paint will be found peculiarly adapted to exposedsurfaces, as itI is indestructible under the intiuence of fresh or saltwater.

In applying my invention to paving purposes, I employ a series of blocksor slabs, B,of rectangular, polygoual, circular,'or other shape. Theseare formed of the compound and cement, as hereinbefore described, andare provided at their corners or edges with angular or other shapedrecesses: C, as indicated iu the drawings. These blocks arelaid, asindicated in the drawings, at suitable intervals apart,aud from therecesses are extended strips D of cast-iron, slate, porcelain, glass,wood, or other suitable material. Theintervening spaces between theblocks and strips are then filled with the compound cement, which may bccolored in any suitable manner to form the pavement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A composition for artificial stone consisting of sand or gravel andPortland or other cement, combined with the liquid compound hereindescribed in about the proportions set forth'.

2. The compound herein described for coating artificial stone or otherbodies in imitation of marble,the 'same consisting of Keens or othersimilar cement combined with the liquid compound described and suitablepigments.

3. The method herein described of imitating marble, the same consistingof scoring the surface of 'the slab while in aplastiestate, and tilling` the indented lilies or scores and surface with compound cementsuitably colored.

4. The method herein described of producing designs in imitation ofmarble, the saine cousisting'in tracing or placing such designs with thecompound cement described upon a sheet of glass, casting the slabthereon, and when sufficiently set removing the glass therefrom,substantially as set forth.

5. The method herein described of preparing au artificial marble pigmentor paint, the same consisting in disintegrating gypsum or sulphate ofalumina by means of the fluid or liquid compound hereindescribed,drawingolf the liquid portion,and dry'ing and pulverizinpr theresiduum, substantially as specified.

6. The concrete surface herein described, consisting of the moldedblocks, having recesses at their edges, the strips sec'uredin saidrecesses and extending from block to block, and the filling set in theintermediate spaces, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesthis 19th day of August, 1881.

J. W. MCKNIGHT. Witnesses:

J. J. MCUARTHY, Cms. D. Davis.

IOO

